MX23RW : Wednesday, April 24 07:31:59| >> :600:2312729:2312729:

Sir Kenny Dalglish optimistic Scotland fans will be allowed in for Euros

Sir Kenny Dalglish optimistic Scotland fans will be allowed in for Euros
© Reuters
Scotland sealed a place at Euro 2020 after shoot-out success over Serbia this week.

Sir Kenny Dalglish is hopeful a Manchester-based cyber technology company can help ensure the Tartan Army make it to Euro 2020 after Scotland's qualification heroics on Thursday.

The former Liverpool player and manager is the latest high-profile name, after Mike and Zara Tindall, to support VST Enterprises, becoming a global sporting ambassador for the group who have a UK wide campaign to get sports fans back into stadiums.

A secure digital health passport, V-Health Passport, is viewed as key to getting supporters into grounds again with the 'Fans Are Back' pilot scheme based around a 15-minute antigen and 10-minute antibody test result being uploaded to the passport, which has a unique VCode for each individual.

Sir Kenny Dalglish has backed VST Enterprises' V-Health Passport pilot scheme to help get fans back inside stadiums (VST Enterprises)

Once uploaded in 30 seconds, a simple scan of the code at security gates of a football ground or even a work place or school would show that individual has tested negative for Covid-19 and is therefore fine to enter the premises.

With Scotland fans getting ready to return to the world stage for the first time since 1998 next summer, and with a mouth-watering clash against England at Wembley on June 18, the joint-record goalscorer for the country would love to see supporters in attendance.

Dalglish told the PA news agency: "It will be a fantastic boost if everyone is capable of going to the matches.

"We have two at Hampden and in between a game at Wembley, which I would imagine a few of the Tartan Army would enjoy going to that, but it's got to be fit and healthy times for them to go.

"If they can go that would be fantastic because the football was brilliant when it came back, we got to watch the matches and it was a wee bit surreal, but now the people are looking to get back in.

"You saw the Northern Ireland game (against Slovakia) in Belfast, there were a few punters there and you think could that work here? You don't know but it has got to be done correctly, properly and as securely and safely as they can possibly get it.

"If they used the V-Health Passport and gave it a try, it wouldn't do them any harm."

Tech entrepreneur Louis-James Davis founded VST Enterprises and has developed the secure digital health passport, which has been ready since the start of lockdown.

Documents have been submitted to the UK Government, the Department For Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Sports Technology Innovation Group (STIG) with the 'Fans Are Back' pilot proposal put forward to chiefs in football, rugby and F1.

A key feature of V-Health Passport is that it also has its own unique contact tracing technology which is specifically designed for sports and football stadiums.

"If we wanted to get people in during the summer, we could have done," Davis told the PA news agency.

"If the Government decides now is the right time to start testing it, we can do straight away it is just a case of being allowed to.

"We do have large scale things going live already. For instance we have Kings Cross in London, where we have 15,000 people a week on a construction site and that is similar to a small event so we should be able to use the same maths to say you could get into an event."

Sir Kenny Dalglish with Louis-James Davis, who has developed the V-Health Passport (VST Enterprises)

The coronavirus pandemic saw Scotland's Nations League play-off semi-final with Israel eventually delayed until October from its original date of March.

A penalty shoot-out was required to progress and it was the same in the final play-off qualifier on Thursday when David Marshall denied Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic to secure Steve Clarke's side a place at next summer's tournament.

Dalglish worked with the 57-year-old at Liverpool in 2012 and said: "It was a fantastic result for Scotland and very well deserved.

"It was a really good performance but like in normal Scottish situations they did it dramatically losing a goal in the last minute and then having the last penalty kick saved by David Marshall.

"You wouldn't have expected it to be any other way with Scotland, but it is a huge uplift for everyone – not just football fans, for the nation as well."

Dalglish continued: "It is unbelievable to go through nine games undefeated, for Scotland it is fantastic.

"Steve has done a great job. He has recognised where their strengths are, which is in the defensive numbers and organisation, and he has set up to play like that. He deserves all the credit for what he has achieved."

ID:422292: cacheID:422292:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9027:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Scotland players celebrate after beating Serbia on penalties in their Euro 2020 playoff on November 12, 2020
Read Next:
Scotland's Scott McTominay: "I was the most relieved man in the stadium"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!